In rural communities across South Africa, limited access to water affects health, education, household income, and daily dignity. Women and children often spend hours each day carrying heavy containers over long distances, reducing time available for school, work, food production, and community life. The ECOroller Scaling Project addresses that burden with a practical 70-litre rolling water container that allows families to move significantly more water with far less physical strain.
The Rotary Club of Prince Rupert donated $2,100 which, with the help of the Rotary Club of Gibsons, received an additional District Grant of $1,050 from The Rotary Foundation to add to this project. Working with the Rotary Club of Hillcrest in South Africa that total donation of $3,150 was doubled by the Rolling Water Foundation to fund 60 ECOrollers delivered to families in South Africa.
By improving water access at the household level, the project is expected to save time, reduce injury, support hygiene and home gardens, and create lasting benefits for families and communities.
The ECOroller Scaling Project is an expansion of the prior Hippo Roller project. The ECOroller is smaller (70L capacity) and more cost effective (USD$75 per unit) than the Hippo Roller. The rollers are manufactured in East London, South Africa with a local company, ECO Tanks who have a country-wide retail and distribution network in South Africa.
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Through Rotary’s local and international partnership model, communities are identified by people who understand local conditions, funds are directed to a proven and affordable solution, and Rotarians remain directly involved in project oversight and delivery. With matching support from the Rolling Water Foundation, every contribution can reach further, helping Rotary expand a tested initiative with measurable humanitarian impact.
Building on earlier Rotary-supported water roller and survival garden efforts in Southern Africa, this project represents the next step in scaling a solution that is simple, durable, and ready for immediate deployment.